Minimal packaging - good for the environment and sooo hippie!

So you just got your hippie order in the mail...

Yes that is a recycled amazon box or padded envelope.

Yes it is packed with newspaper (only the freshest off the presses from Vegas for you :)).

Yes those are reused packing peanuts and bubble wrap and air pillow thingies.

No we don't put out stuff in fancy boxes and wrapped in pretty paper because that raises costs and it is not our way.

If you are sending our goodies as a gift or would like something a little snazzier, just let us know and we will be happy to accommodate your request. We love pretty.

If you are in an area that recycles  do it. If you live in any area that doesn't? Reuse that stuff...keep it going and out of the landfill!!!!

Hoh Rainforest - Washington State. Short Stories in pictures.

Nevada Short Stories & Pictures. Henderson Bird Preserve

We moved to Nevada about eight (8) months ago and have slowly been exploring our new home.
I have always thought of Las Vegas as just a dry piece of desert, but I was so wrong.
When you translate Las Vegas it means the Meadows and years ago this was a little valley oasis in the Mojave Desert. Although much has changed over years since people have started to call this home, if you look, you can still find pockets of amazing diversity.
I shot these pictures yesterday at the Henderson Bird Preserve.
This place (all of Vegas and everything around it, actually) is amazing. We saw so many species of birds yesterday many of which were new to my dad and I. I love being a tourist in my own town. I mean look at this place - it is stunning. There is even snow on the distant (they really aren't that far away) mountains...

Easy delicious desert with just FOUR ingredients!

I am not known for my ability to plan...

But I do enjoy cooking and simple is even better!!!

After our move to Las Vegas we invited some friends over for dinner and I was going to make an angel food cake for dessert topped with whipped cream and sliced berries. 

Now where is my damn angel food cake pan?

Seriously - where is it?
Now what?

Wait can I make it into a cake roll? I think I can...

A quick google search reveals I am correct!!! Sweet and I know where my cookie sheets are!

If you have never made a cake roll, you should. They are remarkably easy and look crazy fancy. 
I like looking fancy.
Did I mention that this makes perfect potluck dish? It travels well and you can leave the extra toppings on the side until you arrive or just let guests dress as desired.

All you need is a box of angel food cake - prepare as directed.
Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper and preheat your oven to 350.

Line cookie sheet with parchment paper and prep cake as directed.

Pour the prepped cake onto your cookie sheet.

Pour prepped cake mix into the lined cookie sheet.

Pop that bad boy into the oven and let it cook for about 20 to 25 minutes. When done the top should be golden and springy to the touch.

Gorgeous and golden!

Here is the toughest part...getting in out of the pan and rolled into a clean dish/tea towel.

Begin the extraction!

Loosen the cake from the pan if any attached itself with a knife.

Loosen cake from edges if stuck.

Next I placed my clean towel on top of the fresh out of the oven cake and invert gently to remove from pan. You can sprinkle the cake or the towel depending on your removal method with either powdered sugar or regular white sugar to prevent the cake from sticking to the towel.

I found it easier to place the towel on top and gently flip over to remove cake from cookie sheet.

Next gently remove the parchment paper...

Gently pull back the parchment paper.

Roll the cake in the towel starting from the short end and place on a cooling rack and allow the cake to cool completely.

Roll the warm cake starting at the short edge of the towel.

You with me so far?
Now let the rolled cake cool completely on a wire rack.

Snug in the towel - let the rolled cake cool completely on a wire rack.

After it is cool prep your filling (there are a million versions. I simply used a store bought whipped topping).
Gently unroll cake and spread filling to about 1/2 inch from the edges of cake - you can also add the berries into the cake too if you want to be fancy!

Spreading the whipped topping to within about a 1/2 inch from the edge of the cake.

Re- roll cake and top with extra filling and berries (if any is left it can be served on the side for people to apply as they choose).
Cut and serve!

Re-roll after adding filling.

Yum - the berries!

Isn't it gorgeous???!!!

I wish I had gotten a better picture of the finished product, but we devoured it and this was the best I could do...

So simple and so good!

This is such a versatile recipe and can be adapted in so many ways - try using a different type of cake or filling or berries - the possibilities are endless.

Have you made this recipe or another version? What is your go to combination?

Vegas Day Trips. There is SO MUCH MORE than the strip!

So you are headed to Vegas...

Whether it is for a long weekend, a week of sunshine, or even a new place to call home Las Vegas is SO MUCH MORE than just the strip.

Of course everyone should see the strip. It is glorious and self indulgent and shiny and busy and there is ALWAYS something to do!

Here are five (5) quick trips off the strip that will leave you wanting more!

Hoover Dam.

Hoover Dam was built during the Great Depression and had families flocking from all over to find work. The dam is built on the Colorado River in Black Canyon and was constructed in less than five (5) years.  The dam created the reservoir Lake Mead which supplies water to Nevada, Arizona, California, and Mexico. Take the tour...it is has some awesome info and you get to see the inner workings of the dam - oh and the magnificent terrazzo floors in the observation area.
It is a magnificent monument to what can be achieved when we work together.

Fun dam facts:

• It has also been known as Boulder Dam even though it was not constructed in Boulder Canyon (this was the original proposed location). Nearby Boulder City (also worth a visit) was originally constructed to house all the workers and their families. 
• The official number of deaths during construction is listed at 96.
• The workers only had two (2) days off per year.
• Christmas
• July 4th
• You can walk across the dam and travel from Nevada to Arizona
• The dam has some amazing examples of art deco decorations and art.
• When Lake Mead is full it is the largest reservoir. Unfortunately Lake Mead is at historic lows due to an extended drought.

Inlay design in the terrazzo floor designed to look like a plug.

Swoon...terrazzo (designed to look like a turbine), black marble, and brass. Yum!
This is located on the bridge and has the entrance to a restroom.

One of a pair of the "Winged Figures of the Republic" by Oskar J.W. Hansen.

A view from the dam looking toward I-93 and the Mike O'Callaghan–Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge.

Seven Magic Mountains

Approximately 10 miles south of Las Vegas near Jean, NV you will find this funky and colorful art installation by Swiss artist Ugo Rondinone. Opened in May of 2016 and set to remain through the end of 2018 (it may be there longer, but get out there quick it is worth the drive).

There are seven (7) structures comprised of locally sourced boulders which are stacked and painted in crazy bright colors - each stack is somewhere between 30 and 35 feet tall.

Seven Magic Mountains

Seven Magic Mountains

Another view of Seven Magic Mountains.

Mt. Charleston

Located Northwest of Las Vegas Mt. Charleston offers a respite from the summer heat and a snow filled playground in the winter including a ski resort. With miles of hiking both easy and not so easy and with a summit just under 12,000 feet you can find something for every ability - including those that just want to have a beer and a pretzel at the Mt. Charleston Lodge while overlooking gorgeous scenery.
A sign at one of the trail heads says driving to the top is equivalent to leaving the Mojave Desert and ending up in the Canadian Rockies - how cool is that? 

The bristlecone pines and the aspen trees will make you forget the summer heat just a short drive from the valley.
FUN FACT:
This July my friend and I decided to head up the mountain. We left about 8:30 in the morning and it was in the high 80s at the house and while on Mt. Charleston near the Atomic Site overlook the car registered a temperature of 55. 55 degrees in late July just 45 minutes from the city? Yes please!
By the time we got back to the house the car told us it was 114 degrees.
We also got to see a thunderstorm and hail while on the mountain and I wouldn't change a thing!

From the Desert View overlook.

Taken Near Cathedral Rock Picnic Area.

Mt. Charleston is also home to wild horses, burros, and all sorts of other glorious critters!

Red Rock Canyon

Red Rock Canyon is West of the city and is managed by the U.S. Department of the Interior and is a National Conservation Area.

PLEASE NOTE - THERE IS AN ENTRANCE FEE. 

We think it is well worth it. Consider getting an America the Beautiful Pass to enjoy all year long!

At Red Rock you can hike (bring more water than you think necessary especially during the warmer months!!!), bike, see petroglyphs, drive on unpaved roads (please only do this if you have the right vehicle and experience), rock climbing, and camping.

One of the easiest ways to enjoy Rock Rock is on the 13 mile One Way Road. It is an easy drive along the paved road with several pull off to hike or just take some beautiful pictures.

The landscape in Red Rocks is diverse and changes quickly.

Taken from just beyond the Sandstone Quarry parking area.

Taken near the Willow Springs Picnic area.

Not the greatest picture, but this area is also home to the Desert Tortoise.
No, I haven't seen one, but I am looking!

Valley of Fire State Park

Located northwest of the city and on the northern boundary of the Lake Mead Recreation Area it is just a short drive to a place that feels out of this world. 

In fact, scenes from almost all of Total Recall's (with Arnold Schwarzenegger) Mars scenes were filmed here and for you Trekkies...silica dome is the site of Capt. James T. Kirk's death and burial on Veridian III.

PLEASE NOTE THERE IS A $10 FEE PER VEHICLE. 

Again well worth it!

You can drive through this park and stop at any number of beautiful parking areas with hiking and picnicing spots. I took a ton of pictures here, but will try to find a few that show some of the spectacular sites in the park including several petroglyphs that are thousands of years old and petrified trees (fenced in for your protection ;)).

You can see why it feel like  you are on another planet.

Some of the petroglyphs to be found in Valley of Fire.

Natural Arch - Valley of Fire.

One of the petrified trees in Valley of Fire.

Looking across the valley near on of the west petrified trees.

Quail after getting a snack behind the visitors center...OMG the noises they make are so adorable.

Antelope squirrel snacking on a food block behind the visitors center in Valley of Fire.

White Dome trail in Valley of Fire.

Hiking beyond the pastel pink canyon in Valley of Fire.

Part of the pastel canyons (not on an official trail) and I was no there at the best time for the lighting in the pink pastel canyon :( 

These are just a few gems for you to explore beyond the neon lined streets in Las Vegas.

Do you have hidden gems that we should explore?

What is your favorite?

Getting crafty with a breakfast nook. Super easy bench covers.

Just like you, I love a happy ending.

And this quick make over makes me so damn happy - I smile every time I walk into the kitchen!

We recently moved to Las Vegas from the Chicago area as many of you know. Since we are new to the area we are renting and we are in the cutest 50's ranch in Old Vegas...

With that said since we are renters we are limited in the amount of changes we can or want to make. 

Our adorable galley kitchen has the cutest breakfast nook and when we looked at the house originally the benches were covered with cute retro fabric. The fabric was worn and dirty, but it was cute. When we moved in they had recovered the benches with white vinyl nastiness. Practical yes, fun - not in the least.

Now I was on a mission and when that happens look out. I get tunnel vision and can only focus on the fact that the white vinyl must go. NOW!!!
Somehow I convinced Mark to go to Joann Fabric with me (he considers this to be one of the circles of hell), he swears he didn't agree, but yet somehow there he was. Here's the thing...the Joann is massive and has the largest selection of fabric I have ever seen in one of their stores. Seriously it was insane.
Of course I am cheap and want to find sale fabric and it is everywhere...I also wanted a fun print and not too light (I am messy and light would show all my oppsies). 

This is what I landed on:

I love love love it!
Not wanting to make permanent changes I decided to go the glue gun route. Using the glue gun will allow the owners to remove the fabric if it gets nasty or if they hate it without too much hassle. Also it is quick and I am such an instant gratification person this satisfies the need to be done FAST!

Let the crafting begin!!!

glue gun - check
fabric -check
extra glue sticks - check
scissors - check

AND GO!

Basically I wrapped the benches like a present (which I am not so good at, but this is a forgiving pattern - stripes would have sucked) and started gluing.

Easy peasy.

The undersides aren't too pretty, but no one will ever see those!

Here is the finished product.

I adore how they came out!

Did I mention that the cabinets in the kitchen are painted a tealish-sea foamy-green-blue?

Also getting a natural light pic in the kitchen is tough...

What quick projects have you done to give a facelift to your home?